WESSON – Football fans attending Thursday night’s season openerat Copiah-Lincoln Community College should witness an aerial show.Both the Co-Lin Wolfpack and the Coahoma Tigers feature talentedsophomore quarterbacks and flocks of swift wide receivers. Kickoffis 7 p.m. in Stone Stadium.

Co-Lin, 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the South Division last season, isled by quarterback Percy Turner. As a freshman, Turner passed for1,515 yards and 12 touchdowns.

By contrast, the Coahoma Tigers feature Garrick Jones (6-4, 195), asophomore out of Memphis Whitehaven, who passed for 1,594 yards and13 touchdowns as the Tigers finished 6-3 overall and 4-2 as theNorth Division runners-up.

Co-Lin head coach Glenn Davis said he anticipated an intense battletomorrow night. His team was hit hard by graduation and new facesabound, especially on defense.

“We are young and real green,” said Davis. “I like our speed andattitude. We have a lot of good players to replace from lastyear.”

Defense has dominated during preseason practice. The offensive linehas a few starters returning.

“Our offensive line has been slow coming along,” said Davis. “Theyhave been working hard to get better.”

Davis released his list of starters for the 2010 season opener.Turner (6-2, 200, so.) of Fayette is the quarterback. Titus Mobley(5-10, 190, so.) of Groveland, Fla. is at running back.

The wide receivers are Fred Fuller (5-9, 175, so.) of Hazlehurst,Jeffrey Collins (5-10. 175, so.) of Fayette, LaVoyd James (5-10,180, so.) of Mobile, Ala., and Michael Berry (6-0, 205, so.) ofMagee.

In the front line, the left tackle is Larry Banks 6-4, 325, so.) ofFayette. At left guard is Josh Young (6-0, 300, fr.) of Starkville.The center is Keith Dee (6-0, 285, so.) of Natchez. The right guardis Fred Tillman (6-1, 285, fr.) of Bogue Chitto and the righttackle is Oscar Johnson (6-6, 350, so.) of Crystal Springs.

The placekicker is Justine Danise (5-11, 175, fr.) of OceanSprings. Long snapper is Adam Ogden (6-2, 260, fr.) ofBrookhaven.

On defense, Terrance Coleman (6-2, 250, so.) of Mobile and JasonCatchings (6-2, 220, so.) of Mendenhall are at end. Ardenus “Bo”Tillman (6-6, 275, so.) of Meadville is at nose guard and RolandDampeer (6-1, 245, so.) of Mendenhall is at strongside tackle. Thelinebackers are Sterling Thompson (5-10, 185, so.) of Madison, andJoe Mays (6-2, 235, so.) of Louise. Jordan Hunt (6-1, 215 so.) ofMeadville is at strong safety and Calvin Jones (5-10, 175, fr.) ofPetal is at free safety. The cornerbacks are Dequavious “Pee Wee”Cobb (6-1, 185, fr.) of Auburn, Ala., and Jermaine Malcolm (6-1,205, so.) of Palm Beach, Fla.

Long a North Division doormat, the Tigers have made giant stridesforward under the direction of former Southern Miss star linebackerFreeman Horton who is in his 10th year a the helm. The inclusion ofMemphis as part of the in-district recruiting area has provided alarge boost to the talent pool.

Davis shared his opinion on the recruiting advantage. “We havecreated a monster and a sleeping giant by giving (Coahoma) anout-of-state recruiting (bonus) with 20 guys from Memphis., pluseight out-of-state players. Freeman Horton has done a great jobcoaching them and building the program.”

The Tigers are among the favorites in the North Division race. Theylost in the opening round of the state playoffs and finished6-4.